Chart House in Newport Beach closes

The Chart House in Newport Beach closed its doors earlier this week. A fixture on Pacific Coast Highway for 30 years, the Landry's-operated restaurant was unable to renew its lease with the property owner, said Michael Brandon, a restaurant consultant and representative for the developer.

Nevada casino mogul Gary Primm, who owns a home in Newport Beach, wants to snag a "world class" operator for the prime coastal space, said Brandon, a consultant for Newport Beach-based CCP Real Estate Advisors, which is handling the re-leasing of the property. Primm is specifically looking for a non-chain concept that caters to "heavy" bar foot traffic, he said.

Substantial renovations will be made to create better waterfront views and to add Duffy boat food service, Brandon said. CCP expects to lease the space in the next 30 days.

The demise of the Chart House comes after Villa Nova closed in late March. The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, a contemporary fine-dining restaurant in Tustin, is opening a second restaurant in that space.